This is for that one guy who really wanted a conclusion to the first chapter fight!
X-X-X
Issei Hyoudou was doing his best to level his breathing and not move to waste any energy. He was on the clock, and it was ticking down by the second. Despite this, his eyes were filled with tension was thick in the air cause comparing both sides is like night and day.
He wasn't the only one, as the conscious members of the occult research club were doing their best not to panic at the sight in front of the leaders of the three factions were perplexed, ready to move in now more than comparison to the two individuals' proud and exasperated looks.
Two white dragon emperors Some people here would've said that would be total nonsense before this. But they can deny what's in front of them. Which left a mixed feeling of awe and fear that one of the top ten longies might have a perfect copy.
Most of all is…
"How…" The legendary Ddragi Y Gosh could only muster one word in this situation.
"You know I always wished for the day I could leave you speechless, red one." In comparison, his rival, Albion, was chipperly responding, almost to the point where it felt out of character.
"Enough games! How is that thing possible?"
Said thing wasn't really overjoyed to be called that, as she pouted before Vali placed his hand over his head, making her stand her ground.
"There are many things unknown to even us, like how in this world someone is able to combine opposite powers with just drive."
The spirit of the boosted gear huffed at the blunt jab at what was done tonight, while also calming down and looking at this situation with a clear mind.
"So you're not going to tell me?" The red dragon concluded, ignoring the not-so-subtle insults and fake pleasantries and getting to the heart of the discussion.
"It is not my place to say." The white dragon's tone turned more serious in response to that, and despite him losing his eyes long ago, everyone could feel that he was staring at the anomaly when he said that.
But this at least confirms one thing: there is an answer, and the only way they could get one is out of that girl's mouth because Vali seems to be the same as his partner.
"Alright enough of this cryptic bullshit!"
The red dragon's vessel appears to have had enough and stares down his fellow other(?) rival while pointing a finger at them.
"You're going to come at me, brat? Then I'll take both of you douches on!"
The state caused the dragon girl to give the red-armored kid a curious stare.
"So you're the red dragon emperor."
Melusine went silent afterwards, but when she's about to speak,
"Before you say anything, he only released sacred gear about a month ago." Vali's interruption causes her to pause and slowly close her mouth, clearly not having anything kind to say to their rival.
And for Issei, that was clear as day.
"Why I ought to—" before the pervert can throw caution to the wind, a hand places itself upon his back, which he turns to and reveals that it was the governor general.
"Better not piss her off, Issei; that girl right there is much older than she looks and someone who's at least on Vali's level." While he still held his flippant expression, his eyes were anything but.
Understanding the situation, Issei shut his mouth reluctantly while stewing over his helplessness.
"You know it's rude to talk about someone's age." Unlike with Issei, Melusine's expression was one of perpetual annoyance at the man.
But even the clear dislike the fallen leader still took a jovial expression
"Melusine wasn't it? It seems that offended you some point if so I-"
"I don't care about your silver tongue, Azzael; you already know what you did!"
"Bruw?"
"You messed with my plushie; that's already warranted death in my eyes!"
"The plushie—wait, that's how Vali got it?!... How long have you been around?" Issei takes a hard look at the man because it's the first time he's heard fear in his voice.
"Long enough to be worried."
Immediately, the 12-wing fallen angel starts blowing towards the small girl.
"Please don't say anything in front of these people. We just got the alliance thing going."
"I shall consider it."
Even with that statement, the damage was already done, judging by the looks of suspicion everyone is giving him.
"And we're done here."
Seeing his foster father grooving towards his sister seems to have broken the camel's back for Vali Lucifer.
"Yeah, we need to leave."
Melusine turns to her younger brother.
"We do?"
"We do."
But before the smaller of the two could start complaining, a red blur crashes right in front of them; neither of them is surprised by it, and without another moment, space distorts and is cut open, revealing another figure casually walking out of it.
Seeing two new figures appear Issei was preparing himself to launch trying to get rid of all the opponents at once but,
"Don't bother."
"B-"
"You were struggling against one white dragon emperor; once she appeared, any thought of winning this by yourself should've been thrown out the window." Calming himself, it seems that the dragon, after the shocking revaluation, sees the situation that is rushing in as a no-win situation, and begrudgingly, Issei understands the logic as he grumbles.
"Just wait and see what happens. It's better to understand when you're outmatched so you can live another day, partner." Ddargi's reassurance gets a nod from his vessel as the two watch the situation unfold.
"Ah, Arthur I was expecting you, but not you, Bikou. What have you come for?" Vali asks.
The monkey laughs at the question.
"Wow, you're harsh, aren't you? I made a long journey and came all the way to this island country because my partner is in a pinch, you know? If you have to know the other Satans were making a fuss because they are soon to fight the northern country gods anyway, this mission is a bust, right? There's no point in staying here."
"...I see, so it's already time."
"So why is Arthur here?"
Bikou's question, causing the two to turn to look at the shortest of the four of them, and Bikou let out a small "oh."
"So Arthur was stuck with babysitting duty, hu-" "Ow!" Melusine kicks the descendant of the Monkey King in a not-so-gentle manner before he can finish his thought.
"I didn't say anything!"
"But you thought it," the small dragon said in response. "If you keep on going like this I won't give-"
"Enough with the bananas!" Bikou cuts her off.
Arthur's loud coughs break up the usual squabble, drawing everyone's attention to him and prompting him to speak.
"If you don't mind, we should go back to the topic at hand."
Issei stares confusingly at that banter before blinking realization
"Wait Bikou? Arthur?"
Azazel's next comment answers Issei's confusion.
"Ah, so, Sun Wukong and King Arthur's descendant, it appears you've gathered a pretty interesting crew, Vali?" While saying this, he places his hand on his chin and looks at the five of them with intrigue. "Got to say not bad, not bad at all."
The fallen angel's statement causes Xenovia's eyes to open wide in realization.
"Wait, if he's Arthur, then that means-"
Before she could finish, Arthur cut her off.
"I see that you have keen eyes, Wielder of Durandal. Yes, what I hold is the last Excalibur, and I accept any challengers."
Arthur's declaration causes tension to rise once more.
"So that's durandal."
Xenovia snaps her head to the side, and almost by pure instinct, her blades swing in an arc in that direction.
But the owner of that voice smoothly dodges the sword.
Irinia yelps as all the younger devils took their positions besides the former exorcist.
"Relax, I was just taking a look."
None of the four leaders made any movement, only trailing her with their eyes.
Above everything else, she is the main reason why no one made a move. It's one thing to have one white dragon, but another? It was completely unfathomable and without knowing it, they followed the red dragons advice
But between the four leaders, one of their eyes is different.
"How did you do that?"
The question came off as more of a demand, which is surprising given who it was coming from.
All the jovialness was gone from the governor general, and replacing that, is a small amount of bafflement, but that was miniscule in comparison to the intense intrigue that came off the man.
"It's not like you disappear but more fused with the environment and it was just normal phasing or invisibility it was on a spiritual level…"
Rambling more to himself if anyone, Azazel went on with everyone watching with different emotions of interest and bafflement. Vali's eyes, on the other hand, sharpen to almost no one's notice.
"Very few beings can actually even do something compared to that... In most cases, you had to be dead to do so. You're a ghost, aren't you?"
For an instant and for the first time here, something that's a rarity even for the Vali team, surprise covers Melusine's face, but it retracts into a grin while letting out a small exhale.
"It seems Vali is right; your eyes are dangerous."
And that compliment was genuine; someone figuring out the nature of heroic spirits just from a single glance at dematerialization is something worthy of praise in the eyes of the fairy knight.
Seeing this as a lead, Azazel jumps at it, asking more questions. "So are you when Alibion past wielders a new subspecies of balance breaker or mayb-"
"Enough!"
Azazel comes to a halt, not because of the volume of the voice but because of the tone within it, and turns to face the owner.
"We're leaving." At the command, Melusine jumps back to her master, the outburst not really bothering her.
"Vali-"
"Goat face."
Melusine's voice interrupts Azazel, but despite the somewhat backhanded nickname, her voice is soft, unlike other times when it's more dull. In addition to that, Vali deliberately closes his eyes, showing no desire to see the smaller siblings' next action.
Azazel shifts his gaze to the girl, watching her move her lips—no voice comes out of her mouth, but to a more acute, it's–
The moment she finishes with Sirzech, Serafall and Michel let out a choked laugh for only a second, and Azazel let out a wry smile.
"Well, I just think this old man just lost."
At the sound of Azazel Vali's eyes flashing open to Issei with the cocky grin, but even with that it didn't take a genius to tell he's worn out by the whole series of recent him, Arthur uses one of his swords to open a portal, with all the others stepping through one by one.
"Now, Issei Hyoudou, as the Hakuryuukou, I was occupied by the blood relatives of the old Maou. The enemy isn't just angels, fallen angels, and devils. Eventually we'll fight again, but at that time it will be even more intense. We'll each get stronger; don't disappoint me."
Following the others the white dragon emperor walks into the space Arthur cut open but once he did–
(BOOST!)
Issei returns a grin of his own and aims a dragon shot at Vali's back.
"Ha like hell, I am going to let you go after all you said since I was already running on low power, so I made Ddragi hold all my remaining energy at this moment!"
Before anyone could comment on how reckless this is, Issei launches himself at the closing gap in space.
"Now take thi-"
A second.
It was only a second that Issei hesitated due to his sight; only he could see beyond the gap.
But that second is all but enough for his balance breaker to fall apart and the cut in space to fully close, leaving the pawn stumbling at empty air.
And without any fanfare, his body falls flat, finally realizing that it's all out of energy.
As he starts to lose feeling in his entire body, he can vaguely see all his friends rushing towards him, but at the moment, the only thing that comes to mind is that moment that gave him pause.
X-X-X
When he finally stepped into the gate, the shorter of the two siblings lightly punched the other.
Without any words, Vali knew what that was for.
"So you knew?"
To this vague question, Melusine answered back.
"I am your servant, you idiot… it's my job to protect you."
What Issei heard next felt alien coming from the same person who just threatened his parent's lives a few minutes ago.
"I... know. I'm sorry, sis."
"Calling me that is not going to get you out of this."
Yet there was still a smile on her face.
X-X-X
"Did I really see that?" Issei could only think this while laying on the floor.
Azazel watches with a smile as everyone of the younger generation piles on the new red dragon emperor. But that smile went sour seeing a certain angel slowly closing in on his location.
"Do you have anything you want to say?" Michel asks nonchalantly.
Azazel let out a grunt. "Not to you"
Michel could only chuckle before noticing the children and Maous calling him, and he politely excuses himself, leaving Azazel with only those words in his head and a stinging stump of an arm as company.
"I'll take care of your baby boy, huh." Azazel repeats these words to himself and sighs. "I am getting way too old for this."